Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Only the very best books get the ‘Books Worth Staring At’ sticker, and here’s the latest to achieve this…

The book: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Published: 2012, by Arrow

Why we loved it: Ernest Cline’s epic love letter to all things pop culture is set in the year 2044, where the planet earth has gone to the dogs. To escape the famine and poverty, most of humanity spend their time in the OASIS, a vast virtual reality world where you can be who who you want and interact with other players all over the world. When the inventor of OASIS dies, it is revealed that he has left a series of riddles in his creation that, if solved, will give the winner control of OASIS – along with all his dosh.

The book is so rich in detail, with references to everything from video games, music, film, TV, food, comics. It’s hard to put down in words how well thought out Cline’s novel is. It’s gripping, funny, clever and rewards re-reading. Steven Spielberg is the current director linked with the film version, so it’s hopefully in safe hands, although when Spielberg was in line to direct the first Harry Potter film he wanted to do it all computer animated, set in America with the little kid from the Sixth Sense as Harry. Hmmmm. Read the book instead.